2009: Mexico: Miguel Ángel Gutiérrez Ávila
20. August 2009
The Embassy of Mexico
Strandvejen 64E, Hellerup, DK 2900, København
Tlf: 45 39 61 05 00 – Fax: 45 39 61 05 12
E-post: info@mexican-embassy.dk
Your Excellency,
I am writing to you as a member of the Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of Norwegian PEN, to express serious concern about the apparent lack of progress in the investigation into the murder of the anthropologist, author and indigenous rights activist Miguel Ángel Gutiérrez Ávila, who was beaten to death in Guerrero state on 25/26 July 2008. A year on, there has been silence from the Mexican authorities on the subject of the investigation and the crime would appear to remain unsolved.
This is particularly worrying given that Gutiérrez is just one of 24 writers murdered in Mexico between 2004 and today, the majority of them print journalists. Four more print journalists have disappeared in the same period. It is our understanding that few if any of these crimes have been properly investigated or punished. Given this bleak panorama, we are understandably concerned that Gutiérrez’ murder should not meet with the same impunity.
The WiPC respectfully requests assurances that a full and impartial investigation into the murder of Miguel Ángel Gutiérrez Ávila is being carried out, and for details of any progress in the investigation to date.
I thank you in advance for your attention and assistance in this
matter and I am confident that You, Your Excellency, will take action accordingly, I remain,
Yours sincerely
Unni Malmø
member, Writers in Prison Committee, Norwegian PEN
Copy to:
Lic. Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza, Attorney General
Emb. Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Lic. Zeferino Torreblanca Galindo, Governor of Guerrero State
Lic. Eduardo Murueta Urrutia, Attorney General of Guerrero State
The Norwegian Embassy in Mexico
The ambassador Knut Solem
Avenida Virreyes 1460
Col. Lomas Virreyes
11000 Mexico D.F.
Tlf from Norway:+52 55
(+52 55) 5540 3486 / 87
(+52 55) 5540 5220 / 21
Fax: (+52 55) 5202 3019
e-mail: emb.mexico@mfa.no
Ministry of Norwegian Foreign Affairs, Oslo, Norway
